Lauri Markkanen represented by the Utah Jazz has beaten the absolute top teams in the series in their last three games, including Philadelphia, Milwaukee and, most recently, the reigning NBA champion, Denver. Utah has won 11 of their last 15 games.
The contrast to the early season is huge. A month ago, the team was ranked 25th in the entire league standings. At that time, the Jazz had won 7 games and lost 16. Now, just before the middle of the season, the team has even struggled for a playoff spot.
Markkanen, who shines as the team’s biggest star, is satisfied with Utah’s recent actions.
– The team is starting to find its identity at both ends of the field. We can play with our strengths, together, Markkanen assessed in an interview with Urheilu after the victorious Denver match.
Utah downed Denver bluntly 124-111. The lead was at most 25 points. The reigning champion team was far from its best, but the game was a shining example of Utah’s improved play. Suomalaistahtih described his team’s performance as intact.
– We mostly did good things at both ends of the field. Still sometimes slips, but overall a clean game, Markkanen, who scored 26 points, once.
Players help each other
What was striking about Utah’s early season was the wild number of turnovers. During the strong period, the loss of the ball has decreased, but especially the effort to build scoring opportunities by passing has been reflected in the play.
Markkanen praises his teammates for wanting to help each other. According to him, the background of the good atmosphere is that everyone recognizes who they are as players and is aware of what the team wants to do on the field.
– We help the other in something where he is not necessarily so good and we help him play with his strengths. For example, we passed the ball a lot today. Everyone gains a lot of self-confidence when the ball moves on the offensive end, Markkanen praised the Denver match.
Markkanen says directly that the difference to the beginning of the season is big.
– Playing is not about no one passing and we try one on one. From the beginning of the season, we maybe did it a little too much, and the end result was accordingly. Quite often it was a rough ride, the Finnish dock worker reflects to .
He admits that the change also affects the atmosphere inside the team, in the locker room. Profits also help.
– I think it’s more fun for everyone to play that way. Now the ball moves, everyone gets to touch it and everyone gets successes. Everyone has fun playing, Markkanen beamed.
The statistics have improved
Through mid-December, Utah lost the ball nearly 18 times per game. During the last 15 matches, there have been a good 14 losses per match. When challenging alone and chasing the ball have decreased, the team has had easier scoring opportunities than before.
In the early season, Utah hit 61.7 percent of its shots from close to the basket, from less than 1.5 meters. For the previous 15 matches, the percentage is 68.7. The team can benefit by entering the space it creates and easy scoring positions.
– We don’t have the biggest one-on-one stars in this team yet. Our strength is that we play as a team. We move the ball and we move actively ourselves, Markkanen emphasizes.
Utah’s defense has also improved. In the early season, the team allowed 118.4 points per 100 possessions. This so-called defensive rating number was the fifth worst in the entire league. During the last few weeks, the reading has been 114.7. Naturally, at the same time, opponents have scored fewer points on Utah turnovers.
Markkanen emphasizes that defending also makes attacking easier.
– When we get “stops” in defense, we get to run in the open field. And defending is probably the most difficult thing in the NBA, Markkanen reflects.
The team’s strong momentum does not make the Finnish star dream further into the future. There is still more than half of the season left, and the team is in 11th place in the Western Conference.
You’re already going to be a play-in team (playoff qualifier), how does that sound?
– Well, let’s go one day at a time.